Popular Sausalito kayaking business Sea Trek may lose lease

A popular kayak rental operation along the shore of Sausalito is the victim of its own success and may soon have to find a new location from which to operate.

Sea Trek, which has been in Sausalito for the past three decades at Schoonmaker Beach, has been a popular business in the community, giving adults, youths and the disabled opportunities to explore the bay with kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, as well as classes and summer camps.

Officials with Schoonmaker Point Marina, the landlord, say they will not renew Sea Trek's lease when it expires at the end of this month because there is a concern about liability at the increasingly popular beach.

"Sea Trek has gotten very busy and now they have the new paddleboards along with the kayaks," said Michael Rainey, harbor master at Schoonmaker Point Marina.

"The beach has also become a Marin destination," Rainey added. "They have really outgrown their facility. They have done very well, but the downside is that it has created a lot of congestion. There is too much going on."

Marina officials are concerned that they could face liability if there was to be an accident involving the Sea Trek operation.

Sea Trek owner Bob Licht, who opened the business in August 1982, noted there has not been an accident since he opened and that he carries liability insurance.

"We have had 4,000 people sign a petition to keep us here," Licht said. "Sea Trek is important to a lot of people and they want us to stay in our current location. Schoonmaker Beach is the best possible location for access. The landlord's issues are legitimate, we want to see how we might mitigate the concerns."

The parties plan to meet next week with city officials to determine if a compromise can be reached. The city wants to keep water-related businesses in the Marinship, where Sea Trek is located. If Sea Trek leaves, boat storage would likely be located at the site, Rainey said.

If they are unable to stay, Sea Trek is looking at an alternate site to operate from at the end of Locust Street, said Licht, who is in negotiations with that property's owner. That land's previous owner, Eben Gossage, had proposed various developments for the site since 1999, including marinas with up to 290 berths, but those plans didn't materialize. The land was sold at a public auction in February 2009.

The site would provide an easy place for non-motorized craft to get into the water and there would be storage and office space available, Licht said.

Councilman Jonathan Leone said the city is working to keep Sea Trek in Sausalito.

"The city has been working with Sea Trek to find a home for them," he said. "We are working with them to assure they meet zoning requirements. We are hopeful. It would be a shame for them to leave."